It’s called Petey – AI Assistant (opens in new tab) and it was created by developer Hidde van de Ploeg (listed as Modum BV in the App Store). Originally it was known as watchGPT, but due to trademark issues with the acronym “GPT”, the name had to be changed. Looking at one demo video posted by the developer on Twitter, Petey works similarly to Siri. You open the app, ask it a question, and it responds in seconds via text to speech. To continue a query, swipe down on the watch face, then tap Reply. Unlike Apple’s own Siri, Petey as an assistant can give quite complex answers such as giving steps how to catch a fish.
One of the problems with voice assistants like Siri is that they are quite rigid in what they can do. You have to ask these AIs specific questions in a specific way to get an answer. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is more flexible in terms of what it can do, from writing business letters to even preparing Christmas stories. It’s hard to say exactly how capable Petey is, but at least it looks like you won’t have to struggle with it that much.
A work in progress
Petey is a work in progress as new features are constantly being added. Right now you have a handful to work with. First, you can share the answers with other people “via text, email, or social media,” though the App Store listing doesn’t specify which.
The app can be set as a complication on the Apple Watch face for quick access. Support for more languages is also growing, bringing the total to 14. Petey now supports German, Italian, and Japanese, to name a few. If you prefer, Petey also comes with a small on-screen keyboard for you to enter your questions. It’s probably better to use your voice.
As for future updates, there are more things on the way. From what is known, van der Ploeg is working on adding a history tool so you can go back to a previous question, making vocal input the default, and improving the app’s overall performance so you can ask it more questions.
However, there are a few caveats. One: the app is not free, as you have to buy it for $4.99 (about £4, over $7 AUD and almost €5) in the App Store. To use Petey, you must have an Apple Watch running watchOS 9 or later. So make sure to update your device if you haven’t already. We should mention that the software does not collect user data, so rest assured, your privacy is safe.
Users with an Android smartwatch will unfortunately be out of luck. When asked about a potential Android version, van der Ploeg said there won’t be one as his “skills wouldn’t allow (for) it”.